For those that studied with TK Chiba Sensei in those early days, they will remember his Aikido being true Budo, something that very few will ever see or feel again.Read " Aikido Then and Now - 1955 - 2015.

Henry Ellis pays tribute to his teacher TK Chiba Shihan - the last of the original UK Japanese Budo masters.

I have so many memories of Chiba Sensei over the almost 50 years that I knew him. Including the five years between 1967 and 1972 when I was assistant to Chiba Sensei.As so many do, I have never considered myself a friend of Chiba Sensei - I was, simply a very privileged student, just as I was under my first Japanese teacher Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.Kenshiro Abbe Sensei had visted OSensei Ueshiba in October 1964 whilst attending the Tokyo Olympics with his good friend Haku Michigami Sensei who had trained the heavy weight gold medalist Anton Geesink. Abbe Sensei asked OSensei for a permanent UK Aikikai representative. - two years later in 1966 TK Chiba Sensei arrived.1966 - The memory I could never erase was the first time Chiba Sensei walked into the ` Hut Dojo` - he looked very menacing - stern and severe as he entered the dojo and surveyed all around him.He had been fore warned by Abbe Sensei and Nakazono Sensei how hard we trained.Chiba Sensei stepped on to the mat, from that instant, and just in case we had any doubts - he demonstrated who he was, and why he was here to stayWe, the original first UK aikido dan grades ( now regarded as UK pioneers ) were not expecting a permanent based AikiKai teacher, which would replace Ken Williams Sensei as National Coach of the ` British Aikido Council `. [ BAC ]I had been assistant to Ken Williams sensei since 1957 - It had never crossed my mind that I would ever leave the Hut Dojo, yet, ten years later I would leave and join Chiba Sensei as his assistant in 1967, this was when he moved to London. - read the story here ->. `` There we were Two Handsome Young Men ``Chiba Sensei told me that his hero had always been Tadashi Abe Sensei - judging by their equally powerful fighting spirit, I could understand his admiration.I had lunch with Chiba Sensei just a few months before he sadly passed away, he said " most dojos have become no more than social clubs " - I agreed - perhaps he had something like these in mind -> Aikido Dancing - Aikido Ribbon Dance - Nodding Aikido - Fantasy Aikido -

TK Chiba Sensei - passed away peacefully aged 75 years at his home in San Diego USA on the 5th - June - 2015

The Times of London - Aikido Dojo

TK Chiba arrived in the UK in 1966, after a miserable year in the cold nothern city of Newcastle, he moved to London in 1967, Chiba Sensei was having a difficult time financially, Osensei Ueshiba no longer provided the meager Aikikai allowance ( read story ) Henry Ellis had four dojos, one being at the international newspaper `` The Times of London `` - Ellis Sensei gave this dojo to Chiba Sensei - It was at this dojo that Chiba Sensei and Henry Ellis did a very successful 30 min " BBC World Service " broadcast , followed by TV demonstrations.

Left: Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 1915 - 1985.

In 1964, Abbe Kenshiro sensei went to Japan with his friend, Michigami Haku sensei to see the latter's student Anton Geesink win the Judo Olympic Heavy Weight Gold medal. Whilst in Japan, Abbe sensei went to the Aikikai to see O-sensei Morihei Ueshiba, Abbe Sensei asked Osensei for a representative of the Aikikai to take full control of his organisation, the `British Aikido Council` (BAC), the main body for UK Aikido. We, the first group of UK Aikido dan grades and pioneers were unaware of Abbe Sensei's plan before Sensei left for Japan, and we were no wiser on his return to the UK.Two years, later, in 1966, TK Chiba sensei arrived in the UK as the official Aikikai representative. He initially stayed with a Mr B. Logan, a director of a large shipping company, on whose ship, the `Al-Sabbayah,' Sensei had made his long journey from Japan to the UK. Mr Logan lived in Sunderland, a bleak cold northern UK city. Chiba sensei found the weather there cold, miserable and unpleasant, this was the most unhappy time in Chiba Sensei's 40 years in the UK.

Left: Ken Williams Sensei - First UK Aikido student.

To say the least, the situation could have, and should have, been handled much better by Abbe sensei. Perhaps if matters had been handled differently, had we been prepared, maybe Williams sensei and Chiba sensei could have worked together for a stronger BAC, but when Chiba sensei arrived at the Hut Dojo for the first time for what we thought was an ordinary seminar, Chiba Senei was introduced as the new official Aikikai representative. The dan grades were fiercely loyal to Williams sensei. They were the original pioneers of aikido to Britain from its inception in 1955. To these dan grades, Williams sensei was the undisputed head of the BAC and UK aikido. There is no doubt that Chiba sensei was aware of the resentment, as he and Williams sensei just did not get along from the moment they met, but Sensei had no idea why he was received that way. One had to have been in the Hut Dojo that day to feel the atmosphere, to understand the shock and

dilemma of all that attended that first course. Chiba sensei was not a visiting Aikido teacher as Abe Tadashi, Nakazono Masahilo and Noro Masamichi sensei(s) had been. This teacher was here to stay, and to his credit, despite all the hardships ahead of him, Chiba Sensei did stay for a further forty years.

The above is taken from the Aikiweb article by Henry Ellis - for more please visit the above link.Right: 2006 - Henry Ellis - K Chiba Sensei - Derek Eastman at the British Birankai celebration dinner to mark Senseis 40th year of teaching Aikido in the UK

This is the programme for the 1969 Budo Festival which was the main event for TK Chiba in the UK at that time. This was an international event with Paris France and Tilburg Holland. This was the last event held by Kenshiro Abbe before he left for Europe, never to return to the UK. - Sorry for the poor quality, I am working on it.

---------------------------------------2015 - Chiba Sensei's last message to both Students and Teachers.

Below - Video of Henry Ellis's speech at the 40th Anniversary of TK Chiba Sensei's arrival in the UK in 1966.2006 - Henry Ellis Sensei pays tribute to the early years as assistant to Chiba Sensei 1967 to 1972 - Ellis reads his speech in tribute to TK Chiba Shihan at the 40th anniversary of Sensei teaching in Britain

I am most honoured to have been asked to write a letter of tribute to TK Chiba Shihan on this auspicious occasion by the British BiranKai.

I am also very pleased to see the world wide recognition and respect that Chiba Shihan has gained in his dedication to promote his very special style of dynamic Aikido. To see the realisation of every Aikido teachers dream with the opening of the new superb San Diego dojo.

This is all in sharp contrast to the many hardships that Chiba Shihan faced on his arrival to Great Britain in 1966. I vividly recall the day when Sensei first visited the ` Hut Dojo ` to a very mixed reception.
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei had not discussed with the senior Aikido instructors of the ` British Aikido Council ` (BAC) of his planned meeting with Osensei Ueshiba in 1964 when he returned to Japan for the Olympic's - to invite a Hombu instructor to be the first full time Japanese Aikido teacher to the UK.

There were serious tests of loyalty to the structure of the BAC based at the Hut Dojo and its further development by senior instructors, and now Abbe Sensei wanted to hand the control of the BAC to Chiba Shihan.

I truly believe that this was a most difficult time for Chiba Shihan, this would be a challenge suitable only for a man of the strength and determination of this powerful young man.

My own loyalty was also tested to the full, I made the decision to leave the Hut Dojo and join Chiba Shihan for what was to be a very interesting and exciting period of seminars, television and BBC world radio exposure.

I would like to add that of all the Japanese Aikido masters that I have had the pleasure to meet and study with, there are two that stand out in my memory above all others, namely Chiba Shihan and Tadashi Abe Sensei.

I wish Chiba Shihan and the British BiranKai continued success in the years ahead.

Mitsususke Harada the Shotokai Karate Master speaks of his long friendship with Chiba Sensei.

A ten year old person is a youngster, a ten year old association is mature, showing signs of stability and development, and as such it should be celebrated.
But my acquaintance with Chiba Sensei goes much further than that. It goes a long way back to the early days of Martial Arts in Europe and places such as Brussels, London and Paris.
Along the years this acquaintance has developed in to a sincere friendship,a gift which in life is to be treasured.

However from the beginning I was greatly impressed by his dedication, enthusiasm, and total commitment to his art. Not only was he interested in teaching it to other people and nations, but he was also, and still is, eager to improve personally, to research and develop what he had learned from his own teacher Morihei Ueshiba, of whom he was one of the closest pupils.
But a Master,however great he maybe, can only show the way - which in itself is already quite an achievement - show the way to the pupil who must then cover the road for himself or herself, and put in the necessary work and commitment.

Chiba Sensei indeed covered this path with true dedication, built enthusiastic groups of followers in Europe and elsewhere; and when he was disappointed after entrusting his European pupils to a person who did not prove to be trustworthy, he came back, started again and rebuilt this association
whose anniversary we celebrate today.

The task is never ending, failiure is part of success, but the true martial artist continues no matter what, such is the way. It has been the way of your Sensei all his life.
May you all continue successfully along the path he has shown you, and long live your association.

Derek and I have known Harada Sensei since 1963 when he arrived in the UK at the invitation of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.
Harada Sensei did not have a dojo at that time, so he was allocated times at the Hut Dojo after Ellis Sensei's classes finished, Ellis and Eastman would study Karate with Harada Sensei and he wanted to learn some Aikido, this can be seen in his own developed style of ` ShotoKai Karate.

From Wikipedia.

Harada was born on 16 November 1928 in Dairen, Manchuria, which was then part of the Empire of Japan; his father was a Japanese army officer.[2][3] He lived there until the age of 9 years, when his family returned to Tokyo.[2] Harada began training in karate in 1943 at the Shotokan karate dojo (training hall) in Zōshigaya, Toshima Ward, Tokyo.[4] His first class was taught by Genshin Hironishi, then ranked 4th dan.[4] He later met Gigō Funakoshi there, only two years before the latter's death due to illness.[2][4] On 29 April 1945, an Allied bombing raid on Tokyo destroyed the Shotokan dojo; Harada wrote a letter to Gichin Funakoshi requesting to continue training if possible, and Funakoshi invited him to train at his eldest son's home, in Koishikawa.[4] Harada studied directly under Gichin Funakoshi.[5]

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`Positive Aikido` a perfect `Traditional` Xmas Gift.

Available from Amazon USA & UK - Positive Aikido a true story of Traditional Aikido from its 1950s UK origins with the Budo legend Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. The book written by direct students Henry Ellis Shihan and Derek Eastman Shihan authored by senior USA news editor and student Dave Rogers Sensei. If you are looking for a factual traditional experience ? then this book is for you, then again, if your choice is fantasy Aikido, such as floating around the universe with a touch of magic Ki ? be warned this book is not for you, keep your money or put your money in a charity box. Happy reading – regards Henry Ellis

TK Chiba Sensei's last letter to Henry Ellis - Site Admin.

Extract:

"The reason for this invitation is in recognition of, and respect, for your sincere devotion, commitment and persistence in the cause of British Aikido for over half a century, to begin as pioneers and being the first black belt students in Great Britain recognised by Hombu."

TK Chiba Shihan

Sensei's - K Abbe - M Nakazono - M Noro - K Chiba

AikiWeb Articles- " It Had to be Felt "

True stories of first hand training with the early masters.

Henry Ellis and TK Chiba Shihan." There we were -Two Handsome Young Men "

T K Chiba Shihan and Madam Chiba.

`The Last Pint of Beer`.- R.I.P.Chiba Sensei

Click image - Sadly, this was to be the last visit to the UK and also the last meeting between Henry Ellis and Chiba Sensei at the ` Hut Pub ` ( dojo ) - This would be the last time Chiba Sensei would visit the `Hut` and it would also be the last time that Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman would ever visit the `Hut`. Our personal memories of the 1950s/60s we can relish with pride - yet, we can do nothing for its lost atmosphere.

TK Chiba Sensei 40th UK Celebration Dinner

Click image - Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman were invited as guests on this special occasion by Chiba Sensei - Henry Ellis was invited by Chiba Sensei to be one of the speakers at the event in 2006. Scroll down main page for video of the speech at 40th anniversary of Chiba Sensei's arrival in the UK - 1966 - 2006.

Henry Ellis and TK Chiba Shihan

Click image - It is our intention to offer the students of today and those of the future the true history of Traditional British Aikido from its inception to the UK in 1955 by the legendary Budo Master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 1915 - 1985 and the arrival of TK Chiba Sensei to the UK in 1966 - Henry Ellis was the personal assistant of Ken Williams Sensei from 1957 to 1967 - Ellis would later become personal assistant to Chiba Sensei from 1967 to 1972 - a relationship that continued until the death of Chiba Sensei. 5th-June-2015.- R.I.P. Chiba Sensei.

The Book ` Positive Aikido `

Click image - The book `Positive Aikido` written by Dave Rogers - Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman - Positive Aikido literally means Aikido that works - It is a story of traditional aikido from the 1950s under the direction of the legendary Budoka Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.

1958 - Butterfly Motif of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei

Click image - The British Judo Council (BJC) was formed in 1958 by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and Mutsataro Otani Sensei. This was the head council of the `British Aikido Council (BAC) - The British Kendo Council (BKC)

Bracknell Summer School 1968

H Ellis - M Harada - D Eastman

It was good to see Harada Sensei again - We first met Sensei when he came to Britain in 1963 and taught at the Hut Dojo. Harada and Chiba Sensei were great friends.

The Hut Dojo

The Hut dojo was first known as the ` Abbe Judo School ` - Later became well known as the ` The Abbe School of Budo ` it was the birthplace or inception of British Aikido. - It is more well known as simply " The Hut Dojo ".